NBA: Tyrese Haliburton shines as Pacers beat Nets

Tyrese Haliburton scored 20 of his 24 points after halftime as the Indiana Pacers took control late in the first half and dominated the third quarter en route to a 136-109 victory over the Brooklyn Nets Sunday night in New York.

Haliburton made 8 of 13 shots and hit 4 of 7 3-point tries in his best game since returning from a torn right Achilles tendon that robbed him of the 2025-26 season. Haliburton also added 10 assists and helped the Pacers rebound from an ugly 121-105 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Friday.

Pascal Siakam added 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists as the Pacers shot 57.6% and 48.8% from 3-point range (21 of 43). Indiana made 14 of 23 shots in the third as it outscored Brooklyn 37-24.

Reserve Obi Toppin contributed 16 and Andrew Nembhard and Kelly Oubre Jr. finished with 14. Jay Huff also chipped in 14 as he saw extensive time at center after Ivica Zubac exited in the first quarter with an ankle injury. Aaron Nesmith contributed 13.

Nolan Traore took advantage of extended minutes and led the Nets with 17 points. Josh Minott added 15 and Moritz Wagner chipped in 13 as the Nets lost their third straight.

Brooklyn shot 40.7% and saw quiet nights from Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle. Porter and Randle were held to 10 points apiece, combined to shoot 6-of-21 and missed all seven of their 3-point tries.

After Wagner's 3-pointer gave the Nets a 51-49 lead with 2:45 remaining, Toppin hit a pair of 3s and Nembhard sank a triple with 6.9 seconds left to cap a 16-5 run and send Indiana into halftime with a 65-56 lead.

Nesmith's 3-pointer over Egor Demin opened a 79-65 lead with 8:14 left and forced a Brooklyn timeout. Haliburton dunked with 7:14 left before sinking a 3-pointer a little over a minute later for an 88-72 lead.

Toppin hit back-to-back 3s before converting a breakaway dunk following a steal by Larry Nance Jr. to cap a 12-0 run that extended the lead to 100-74 with 3:19 left.

Haliburton's 3 opened a 114-95 lead with 6:59 left, and he sank a wide-open 27-footer from the top of the key for a 120-99 margin with 5:20 left.

-Field Level Media/Reuters